Growth Rates of Important Reindeer Forage Lichens on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska

Abstract

The average annual linear rates of growth of Cladonia alpestris, C. rangiferina, and C. sylvatica on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, were determined to be 5.0, 5.3, and 5.4 mm. respectively. These averages are higher than those of northern Canada and some areas in the U.S.S.R. Cladonia rangiferina reaches the podetium renewal period in 5.9 years which is almost half the time required by the other two species